Failed arts (aka Farts)
Manta wanted to see some of my old attempts at drawing humans, so here we go. This is the spiritual successor to that art improvement meme I posted last year. Most of these are dated 2003-2006. You can probably see why teenage-me usually stuck with drawing Pokemon instead of people.
"Why am I half chibi?" Because that was the extent of my people-drawing skills at the time, probably. Case in point:
Deeeerrrp. For the record, this is the picture that gave me self-esteem issues for years. Short version: I was really proud of it, and then my best friend happened to see it (I didn't even show it to her intentionally) and started critiquing it and pointing out all the flaws, without saying anything nice. In retrospect, the friend was right; it is pretty bad. But part of me still wants to scream "I didn't ask for your opinion. Quit snooping around my sketchbook!"
Kisa from Fruits Basket. Hands are hard. Feet are hard. Non profile shots are hard. Everything is hard. Also giant eyes for some reason.
I was an Akito fangirl. Can you tell?
And here begins a long line of Pokemon characters (mostly of legendary Pokemon gijinkas) because I have/had a thing for gijinkas. And for legendary Pokemon.
Lugia gijinka. "His hands are in his pockets because I can't draw hands he's cool. Yes, it's definitely because he's cool. You only wish you were as cool as he is."
Hands achievement unlocked! Even if they're balled into fists because I can't draw fingers.
Opposable thumbs achievement unlocked!
Finger achievement unlocked! I have done it. I have mastered art!
Mew gijinka. I feel like I stole the ear-hair from some random shoujo anime character, but I can't remember which one.
Teen Lance, apparently. With my highly embarrassing comments on the side.
Suicune. The ridiculous, gravity-defying belts are fun. Not gonna lie, I would probably keep them in if I redesigned this.
Why so emo, Kyogre kid? Teen-me may not be able to draw people, but she can sure draw (stylized) Kyogres!
Oh yeah, this was the design I based my first cosplay off of. Except replace the weird hair with a Kyogre hat. It was pretty crappy as far as cosplay attempts go, but hey, I was 15. Gotta start somewhere. I still have the cape because it's swooshy and really fun to wear. :D
Tales of Symphonia phase... START!
More random eyes and stuff. And... are her hands between her legs? What even?!? o__o
This is Mithos and one of the... summon spirits, I think? Who is making fun of him for some reason. (It's been a long time since I played Symphonia. Can you tell?)
Tales of Symphonia art INTENSIFIES with wings!
More random Fruits Basket stuff. I was pretty proud of this one because "look ma, fingers!"
Arceus gijinka (designed before the Sugimori art was released so it has errors). More fun with belts. Confession: I still kind of like this picture.
And I think that's the last (pre-university) drawing that I have. By comparison, here is my recent stuff. Granted, my art still isn't great, but it's leaps and bounds better than it was before I took official classes. Thank goodness for life drawing and anatomy classes.
"Why am I half chibi?" Because that was the extent of my people-drawing skills at the time, probably. Case in point:
Deeeerrrp. For the record, this is the picture that gave me self-esteem issues for years. Short version: I was really proud of it, and then my best friend happened to see it (I didn't even show it to her intentionally) and started critiquing it and pointing out all the flaws, without saying anything nice. In retrospect, the friend was right; it is pretty bad. But part of me still wants to scream "I didn't ask for your opinion. Quit snooping around my sketchbook!"
Kisa from Fruits Basket. Hands are hard. Feet are hard. Non profile shots are hard. Everything is hard. Also giant eyes for some reason.
I was an Akito fangirl. Can you tell?
And here begins a long line of Pokemon characters (mostly of legendary Pokemon gijinkas) because I have/had a thing for gijinkas. And for legendary Pokemon.
Lugia gijinka. "His hands are in his pockets because I can't draw hands he's cool. Yes, it's definitely because he's cool. You only wish you were as cool as he is."
Hands achievement unlocked! Even if they're balled into fists because I can't draw fingers.
Opposable thumbs achievement unlocked!
Finger achievement unlocked! I have done it. I have mastered art!
Mew gijinka. I feel like I stole the ear-hair from some random shoujo anime character, but I can't remember which one.
Teen Lance, apparently. With my highly embarrassing comments on the side.
Suicune. The ridiculous, gravity-defying belts are fun. Not gonna lie, I would probably keep them in if I redesigned this.
Why so emo, Kyogre kid? Teen-me may not be able to draw people, but she can sure draw (stylized) Kyogres!
Oh yeah, this was the design I based my first cosplay off of. Except replace the weird hair with a Kyogre hat. It was pretty crappy as far as cosplay attempts go, but hey, I was 15. Gotta start somewhere. I still have the cape because it's swooshy and really fun to wear. :D
Tales of Symphonia phase... START!
More random eyes and stuff. And... are her hands between her legs? What even?!? o__o
This is Mithos and one of the... summon spirits, I think? Who is making fun of him for some reason. (It's been a long time since I played Symphonia. Can you tell?)
Tales of Symphonia art INTENSIFIES with wings!
More random Fruits Basket stuff. I was pretty proud of this one because "look ma, fingers!"
Arceus gijinka (designed before the Sugimori art was released so it has errors). More fun with belts. Confession: I still kind of like this picture.
And I think that's the last (pre-university) drawing that I have. By comparison, here is my recent stuff. Granted, my art still isn't great, but it's leaps and bounds better than it was before I took official classes. Thank goodness for life drawing and anatomy classes.